Nine members of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) swim team traveled to Boston University last Sunday to compete at sectionals, a regional event which marks the final time this season for high school swimmers to qualify for states. This year, the team sent six swimmers along with three alternates to compete.
Although this year was particularly successful, the MVRHS swim team has been excelling for years. Senior captain Ronan Mullin attributes the team’s success to the amount of work they have been putting in. “We practice every day, have been going to the sauna and doing cold plunges, and also some guided meditation,” he said.
Senior Will Simmons also feels that his swim mates are continuing to meet the team’s high standards. “We come back every year with the same mentality and with everyone raising each other higher,” he said.
Ronan, who placed seventh overall at the meet and set a school record in the 100-meter fly, said, “It’s our fourth time winning the league championship and our third time in a row. We have been undefeated for two years in a row,” he said.
During the 400-meter relay on Sunday, the boys set a new school record and beat their own personal record by five seconds. “It was electric,” said senior Claus Smith, who participated in the relay along with senior Grady Stalgren, freshman Moses Thomson, and Ronan Mullin.
“The 400-meter relay was the best thing we’ve ever done,” Ronan said. “It was the last race, we gave it our all, and we left everything in the pool.”